Collapsible sink stopper structure



y 12, 1950 B. CARMICHAEL 2,944,265

COLLAPSIBLE SINK STOPPER STRUCTURE Filed March 10, 1958 I IA 69 3 INVENTOR.

Brace Carmichael rm MK This invention relates to stopper structure and more r H K V 2 within the drain outlet of a sink, regardless of the size thereof within predetermined limits. 7

Another important object of the instant invention is th provision of a stopper as described above which includes a flexible element surrounding the outer tubular member of the stopper adapted to be expanded into uniform en-" gagement with the proximal inner surface of a drain outlet of a sink in circumferentially extending, liquid sealing relationship thereto, whereby the stopper may be used in sink outlets ofvarious diameters.

Other important objects of this invention relate to the 7 provision of a stopper having expansible means interposed particularly, to a stopper adapted to be positioned in the drain outletof a sink to block passage of liquid therethrough.

Previous sink stoppers adapted tobe utilized to close the drain outlet of a sink were not entirely satisfactory because although the same were constructed in a manner to be utilizable in sinks having drain outlets of various diameters, it was not possible to introduce additional liquids into the drain outlet while the stopper maintained liquid in the sink .at a predetermined level. One'of the most popular of such prior stoppers consisted of a disk of flexible material such as rubber of suflicient diameter that the same could be disposed in covering relationship to drain outlets of'different diameters.

purposes, it can be seen that the same had limited utility because of, the inherent defect noted above relative to the fact that if liquid was maintained in the sink at a predetermined level by the. stopper, it was necessary to completely remove the stopper from the outlet andpermit the pipe.

One solution to the above problem is illustrated in my application Serial No. 695,687, filed Nov. 12., 1957 under the title of Collapsible Sink" Stopper Structure and wherein is disclosed a sectional, tubular stopper adapted tobe positioned within the drainoutlet and the sections extended to present an elongated member extending upwardly from the drain outlet so that the liquid is retained in the sink, whileadditional substances may be Although this type of stopper was inexpensive and operable for most between the outer tubular member and the flexible ele-, ment adapted to engage the inner surface of the drain outlet whereby, upon expansion of the expansible means, the flexible element is moved into uniform, firm, liquid sealing engagement with the proximal inner cylindrical surface of the drain outlet; to the provision of a stopper as referred to above wherein the expansible means is cam actuated so that expansion of the flexible element into v liquid sealing engagement with the inner surface of the drain outlet is uniform throughout the entire circum-' ference of the flexible element resulting in a liquidtight seal between the stopper and the drain outlet; to the provision of additional cam actuated structure for expanding the expansible means, to the end that the stopper may be placed in the drain outlet and the flexible element moved into liquid sealing engagement with the inner surface thereof in a minimum amount of time and with littleeffort; to the provision of means for providing aliquidtight seal between the drain outlet and the stopper which telescoped stoppers; to the provision of a stopper as referred to above wherein substantially all ofqthe components thereof may be molded out of suitable synthetic resin materials, thereby materially lowering the overall cost of the stopper; and to other important objects. and;

features of the present invention which will become obvious as the following specification progresses.

directed into the drain outlet through the elongated I member. In my prior disclosure the outer section adapted to be positioned within the drain outlet had provision thereon whereby the section could be frictionally disposed within drain outlets of various diameters, but it was determined that the flexible rings of different diameters on the outer surface of the section did not provide a 'watertight seal with the drain outlet in certain types of sinks. The'diameters of the drain outlets in many types of sinks varied to such a degree that the necessary tight engagement of the sealing members with the inner cylindrical. surface ofthe drain outlets was not obtained to prevent. passage of liquidthrough the drain outlet in the drainpipe.

It is, therefore, the most important object of this inventionto provide an extensible stopper substantially as disclosed in my aforementioned copending application of which this is a continuation-in-part, and'which' includes improved means on the outer section'or member adapting the stopper to be positioned in liquid sealing relationship In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of stopper structure constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the same positioned within the drain outlet of a sink or the like-and the tubular sections or members thereof being moved into their extended positions, certain parts of the structure being broken away and in section:

to reveal details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of thestopper struc-. ture illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the tubular members or sections thereof disposed in telescoped relationship and; the entire structure being removed from the drain outlet of the sink;

Fig. 3 is a partial bottom view projected from Fig. 2 and certain parts being'broken away to reveal details'of;

the expansible means;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional viewtaken on the line 4.4'0fl?ig; 1 and looking downwardly in the'direction of the arrows; and

Fig.5 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the sections 12, 14, 16 andf18 which are disposedin't scoped relationship, as clearly illustratedin 'Figfl being apparent that member 14" maybe telescoped '1 Patented July 12, 1960 V 3 member 12, while member 16 may move into member 14 and likewise, member 18 into member 16. When members 14 to 18 inclusive are moved into their extended positions as illustrated in Fig. l, the normally lowermostends 20 of members 14; 16 and 1? partially overlap the normally uppermost ends 22. of members '12, 14 and 16 respectively.

The uppermost ends 22 of members 14 and 16 are provided with annular, integral, inwardly extending projections 24 which interengage outwardly projecting extensions26 on members 16 and 18. Member 14 is likewise provided with an annular, outwardly projecting extension 26 which is adapted to engage structure to be' hereinafter defined. An internal, circumferentially extending, inwardly projecting flange 28 integral with the lowermost end of member 12 engages extension 26 on member 14 when the latter is telescoped into member 12' to limit movement of member 14 relative to member 12 in one direction.

Member 18 is pro-vided with a shield broadly designated 30 at the uppermost end thereof and which includes an outwardly flared, substantially frusto-conical portion 32 integral with the uppermost end of member 18 and adapted to receive a disk cover 34 provided with a laterally extending, annular, substantially L-shaped lip 36 adapted to overlie and engage the outer peripheral edge of flared portion 32. Finger ring 38 suitably secured to an outwardly extending component 40- joined to the outer face of disk 34 facilitates removal of the latter from member 18.

The improved structure 41 of the present invention and which renders the stopper 10 utilizable in sinks having drain outlets 42 of various diameters is mounted on member 12. As shown in Fig. 1, drain outlets 42 commonly include a major cylindrical portion 44 communicating with a tubular opening 46 by an annular, intermediate stretch 48. Structure 41, adapting stopper 10 to be positioned within drain outlets 42 having cylindrical portions 44 of various diameters, includes an annular component broadly designated 50 surrounding member 12 and shiftable longitudinally thereon. As clearly indicated in Fig. 1, the external surface of the normally lowermost edge of member 12 is cut away to present an annular cam surface 52 which is transversely angular with respect to the axis of member 12. Cam surface 52 merges with the outer surface of member 12 adjacent the normally-uppermost part of flange 28 and has its norrowest diameter at the normally lowermost edge of member 12.

Component 50 includes a circumferentially extending upper portion 54 and a plurality of closely spaced, depending segments 56 integral therewith and each provided with a substantially triangular head 58 normally disposed adjacent cam surface 52 of member 12. The angular edges 60 of heads 58 are constructed to conform with cam surface 52 as indicated in Fig. 1, so that upon reciprocation of component 50 on member 12, angular edges 60 of heads 58 slide on cam surface 52. It can be seen that as segments 56 are moved upwardly on member 12, movement of heads 58 toward the greatest diameter of cam surface 52 causes the effective diameter of component 50 adjacent heads 58 to be increased.

Means for shifting component 50 longitudinally on member 12 includes a ring broadly designated 62 rotatably mounted on the uppermost end of member 12, and resting on an outwardly extending annular shoulder 64 integral with the outer surface of member 12. Ring 62 is substantially L-shaped in transverse cross-section as indicated in Figs. 1 and and therefore, has an upright outer wall 66 integral with an inwardly extending, annular bottom 68 rotatably resting on shoulder 64. Bottom 68 has a plurality of upwardly facing, circumferentially extending cam faces 70 with the slope of each of the same extending from adjacent bottom 68 to the uppermost edge of wall 66, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. Al-

4 though the number of cam faces 70 may vary, four of the same are preferred with the angle of inclination of each of the same extending in the same direction around the circumference of ring 62.

A metal band 72 surrounding upper portion 54 of component 50 engages an annular, outwardly extending projection 74 integral Withthe uppermost end of portion 54 of component 51), and a series of substantially L-shaped parts 76 are joined to band 72 and extend upwardly therefrom. Each of the parts 76 has a vertical leg 78 suitably joined to band 72 and lying in the plane thereof and a laterally outwardly extending leg 80 at the uppermost end of leg 78 positioned in overlying relationship to a respective cam face 70 as shown in Fig. 4. Slots 82 provided in shoulder 64 clear respective legs 78 of parts 76 and the internal diameter of bottom '68 is sufficiently large to clear legs 78 as ring 62 is rotated relative to parts 76 and component 50. By the same token, notches 84 in annular projection 74 also receive respective legs 78 of parts 76 so that legs 78 lie in relatively close proximity to the outer surface of member 12.

An annular flange broadly numerated 86 is also positioned on member 12 in overlying relationship to the uppermost edge of member 12 and includes an annular plate 88 overlying ring 62 in covering relationship to the latter and provided with a depending circular wall.

90 having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer dlameter of the proximal outer surface of member 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Wall 90 is joined to the outer surface of member 12 so that relative rotation of flange 86 and member 12 is prevented, and plate 88 prevents access to the interior of ring 62 while not interfering in any manner with relative rotation of flange 86 and ring 62. The inner circular edge of plate 88 of flange 86 engages the outer surface of member 14 so that upon upward movement of member 14 relative to member 12, extension 26 of member 14 interengages with the inner circular edge of plate 88 to prevent furthermovement of member 14 relative to member 12.

A laterally extending handle 92 is formed integrally with the outer surface of wall 66 of ring 62, and a pluralrty of outwardly extending, semicircular projections 94 integral with the outer peripheral edge of plate 88 facilitate relative rotation of ring 62 and flange 86.

A flexible element 96 in the nature of a rubber ban is disposed around component 50 in substantially covermg relationship to the latter and, as shown in Fig. 3,

the normally lowermost portion 98 of band 96 overlies' the lowermost ends of heads 58 of segments 56. The

normally outermost surfaces of segment-s 56 are joined to proximal portions of flexible element 96 bysuita'ble adhesive means.

When it is desired to place sink stopper 10* Within an outlet drain 42 in liquid sealing relationship thereto,

member 12 is telescoped into cylindrical portion 44 of outlet 42 and thereupon, handle 92 and the flange 86 attached thereto are rotated in a direction relative to wall 66 of ring 62 to cause legs 80 of parts 76 to be moved upwardly along the inclined surface of carn faces 70. It can be recognized that flange 86 may be rotated relative to ring 62 regardless of whether members 14, 16 and 18 are disposed in their telescoped positions, as illustrated in Fig. 2, or extended as shown in Fig. l. Sliding movement of legs 80 of parts 76 upwardly along the inclined surfaces of cam faces 70' causes legs 76 to.

be moved therewith and effecting shifting movement of.

extending, liquid sealing relationship to the proximal inner cylindrical surface of portion 44 of outlet 42.

It thus is apparent that flexible element 96 may be moved into liquid sealing relationship to the inner surface of a drain outlet 4-2 regardless of the diameter thereof within prescribed limits. In this manner, stopper structure may be utilized in sinks having drain outlets of various diameters, and a liquid-tight seal is always obtained irrespective of the fact that the drain outlets vary within predetermined diameters. The cam actuated structure described herein for expanding flexible element 60 assures positive engagement of the latter with the inner surface of cylindrical portion 44 of drain outlet 42, and expansion of element 60 is uniform throughout the circumference thereof. Also, the utilization of cam faces 70 which receive legs 80 of parts 76 assure that positive expansion of element 60 is obtained with little effort being necessary to secure the necessary liquid seal. The use of a plurality of segments 56 also causes flexible element 60 to be expanded the same distance around the entire circumference of member 12 and thus, the necessary seal is obtained without any leakage around member 12. The entire stopper 10 with the exception of fiexible element 60, hand 72, parts 76 and finger ring 38 may be constructed of suitable synthetic resin material and in particular, high density polyethylene and, in this respect, it is to be pointed out that the overall cost of the unit may be maintained at a low figure because of the fact that all of the components may be molded and then assembled in a minimum amount of time.

Although stopper structure 10 is particularly adapted for utilization with a number of tubular, relatively telescoped members such as 12 to 18 respectively, it can be perceived that structure 41 may be utilized on various other types of stoppers. Manifestly, various other modifications such as this may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stopper for the tubular drain out-let of a sink, structure adapted to be positioned within said outlet for blocking passage of liquid therethrough and including a tubular member provided with an annular, angularly disposed cam surface thereon; a flexible element surrounding said member; an annular component interposed between said element and the member and having a series of segments integral therewith and slidably engaging and extending around the circumference of said surface; a ring rotatably carried by said member and having a series of ci-rcumferentially disposed, inclined cam faces thereon; and means coupled with said component and including parts slidably engaging said cam faces for moving the component relative to the member in a direction to shift the segments thereof on said surface toward the greatest diameter of the same as the ring is rotated in a direction to cause said parts to slide up the incline of respective cam faces whereby the element may be expanded into uniform engagement with the proximal inner surface of outlets of various diameters in circumferentially extending, liquid sealing relationship thereto.

2. A stopper as set forth in claim 1 wherein said com- 7 ponent is provided with an external, outwardly extending flange, and wherein said means includes an annular band surrounding the component and engaging the flange, said parts being joined to said band. I

3. A stopper as set forth in claim 2 wherein said parts are substantially L-shaped in configuration and having a pair of legs, one of said legs being joined to the band and the other leg overlying and slidably engaging a respective cam face.

4. A stopper as set forth in claim 3 wherein said member is provided with a circumferenti-ally extending, outwardly projecting extension between the ring and said hand, there being a slot in said extension receiving each of said parts respectively for preventing rotation of said component relative to the member.

5. A stopper as set forth in claim 4 wherein is provided handle means connected to said ring and extending radially outwardly therefrom for facilitating rotation of the same.

6. A stopper as set forth in claim 5 wherein is provided an annular collar joined to said member adjacent said ring and provided with a series of radially outwardly extending projections lying in a plane proximal to a plane through said handle perpendicular to the axis of the member.

7. A stopper as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said segments of the component is joined to the element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,600 Kemp May 7, 1889 922,544 Turner et al May 25, 1909 2,683,499 DeCroes July 13, 1954 

